During their nine years of marriage, Joseph and Bessie had four children:
Dorothy Elizabeth Davidson Hersey Brandon (1894-1987)
Ralph Davidson (1896-1898)
Irene Davidson Schneider (1897-1983)
Harry Lawrence Davidson (1899-1986)
On 21 August 1903, Joseph suddenly died, at age 42, from what his death certificate says is "pulmonary haemorrhage" and "pulmonary tuberculosis."
Left to care for three children, Bessie carried on the clothing business alone. However, during the next few years, she met a man known only as "Mr. Belmont." We have tried for years to find out whom this man is, or what his first name was, to no avail. All that is known is that Bessie became pregnant with a child from this relationship; even though she had had a son named Ralph who had died at age 2, she gave her son with "Mr. Belmont" the name of Ralph Sidney Belmont (1906-1996). Bessie raised Ralph, as well as her other children, alone, never again getting married.
Bessie died in Newport on 29 September 1956 at age 83, and she was buried in the same cemetery as her late husband Joseph Davidson. Her three children with Joseph survived her by thirty years; her son with "Mr. Belmont" lived 40 years after his mother passed away.
To Bessie, who few people knew while she lived, and who was a strong and caring woman and mother, rest in peace.
Update (20 June 2011): Recent discoveries by members of my family have led us to the identity of "Mr. Belmont." He is Louis Belmont, a native of Russia who settled in Massachusetts. Bessie married him sometime around 1905. There are no other records we can find at this time regarding Louis Belmont. As soon as something does turn up, this page will be updated.
During their nine years of marriage, Joseph and Bessie had four children:
Dorothy Elizabeth Davidson Hersey Brandon (1894-1987)
Ralph Davidson (1896-1898)
Irene Davidson Schneider (1897-1983)
Harry Lawrence Davidson (1899-1986)
On 21 August 1903, Joseph suddenly died, at age 42, from what his death certificate says is "pulmonary haemorrhage" and "pulmonary tuberculosis."
Left to care for three children, Bessie carried on the clothing business alone. However, during the next few years, she met a man known only as "Mr. Belmont." We have tried for years to find out whom this man is, or what his first name was, to no avail. All that is known is that Bessie became pregnant with a child from this relationship; even though she had had a son named Ralph who had died at age 2, she gave her son with "Mr. Belmont" the name of Ralph Sidney Belmont (1906-1996). Bessie raised Ralph, as well as her other children, alone, never again getting married.
Bessie died in Newport on 29 September 1956 at age 83, and she was buried in the same cemetery as her late husband Joseph Davidson. Her three children with Joseph survived her by thirty years; her son with "Mr. Belmont" lived 40 years after his mother passed away.
To Bessie, who few people knew while she lived, and who was a strong and caring woman and mother, rest in peace.
Update (20 June 2011): Recent discoveries by members of my family have led us to the identity of "Mr. Belmont." He is Louis Belmont, a native of Russia who settled in Massachusetts. Bessie married him sometime around 1905. There are no other records we can find at this time regarding Louis Belmont. As soon as something does turn up, this page will be updated.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Davidson Belmont or Schein memorials in:
- Colonial Jewish Cemetery of Rhode Island Davidson Belmont or Schein
- Newport Davidson Belmont or Schein
- Newport County Davidson Belmont or Schein
- Rhode Island Davidson Belmont or Schein
- USA Davidson Belmont or Schein
- Find a Grave Davidson Belmont or Schein
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement